Yarn spinning apparatus

ABSTRACT

Home hobby type spinning apparatus comprises base, column, drive wheel journaled in column, and treadle and actuator link to rotate drive wheel. A quill carrier pivotally mounted on top of the column has a bearing to rotatably receive the shaft of a spinning quill. A quill wheel is fixed to the quill shaft and drivenly engages the drive wheel. The quill carrier is spring biased to urge the quill wheel into engagement with the drive wheel. The quill carrier may be manually retracted to disengage the quill wheel, and a latch is provided to retain the carrier in retracted position. Since the apparatus is intended for hobby work, it is made simple and compact, and preferably most of the parts are made of wood. The major components are readily detachable to form a minimum package for shipping and storage.

United States Patent Appl. No.: 229,525

[52] US. Cl. 57/37, 57/103 [51] Int. Cl D0lh 3/00 [58] Field of Search 57/37, '103 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 467,654 H1892 Lotz 69,728 10/1867 Voegtli 103,906 6/1870 Main 111,991 2/1871 Voegtli 131,657 9/1872 Bryce 147,200 2/1874 Vocgtli 246,251 8/1881 Voegtli 57/37 e4\" 3 mo 2a LL Oliver Mar. 12, 1974 1 YARN SPINNING APPARATUS 7 Primary Examiner.lohn Petrakes [76] Inventor: Robert M. Oliver, 5893 Baseline Attorney Agent or Firm-Sheridan ROSS & Fields .,B 1d ,Cl.80303 I Rd er 0 O 57 ABSTRACT [22] F'led: 1972 Home hobby type spinning apparatus comprises base,

column, drive wheel journaled in column, and treadle and actuator link to rotate drive wheel. A quill carrier pivotally mounted on top of the column has a bearing to rotatably receive the shaft of a spinning quill. A quill wheel is fixed to the quill shaft and drivenly engages the drive wheel. The quill carrier is spring biased to urge the quill wheel into engagement with the drive wheel. The quill carrier may be manually retracted to disengage the quill wheel, and a latch is provided to retain the carrier in retracted position. Since the apparatus is intended for hobby work, it is made simple and compact, and preferably most of the parts are made of wood. The major components are readily detachable to form a minimum package for shipping and storage.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures YARN SPINNING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION -poses. The industrial types are large, heavy, and cumbersome and not adapted for home use although the basic principles of operation are simimilar. The domestic types have changes very little for a century and are rather large and complicated. Since they were used almost constantly in the early days there was little occasion to store them, and the major components were assembled permanently, and no effort was made to render them either simple or compact.

.There has been a renewed interest in the domestic or hobby spinning art in recent years and the demand for new machines is steadily increasing. This demand has been met by building reproductions of the old style machines so that even though they are newly made, they are still unitary and bulky and are difficult to store in modern homes where they are used only occasionally. They are also relatively complicated, using a belt drive between the drive wheel and the spindle or quill and has a flyer with hooks and an orifice which does not accommodate irregular or large loosely-spun yarn textures. Consequently there is now a demand for a machine which is compact and simple and may be stored in a limited space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the difficulties mentioned above and provides a construction which is very simple and compact, having a minimum number of parts, the major components being readily disassembled so that they may be arranged in a small package for shipping and also for storage when they are not in use.

Generally stated, the apparatus includes a base, a column which is readily detachable therefrom, and a drive wheel which is detachably journaled in a bearing in the column. A treadle is pivotally mounted on the base, and an actuator link is pivotally connected at its lower end to the treadle. The upper end of the actuator link carries a rotatable roller which is pressed into a recess in the drive wheel radially offset from the axis of rotation of the drive wheel to produce a crank arm effect.

A quill carrier is mounted to the upper portion of the column and is movable with respect thereto. While other forms of mounting may be used, it is presently preferred to use a butt or plate type hinge, securing one plate to the carrier and the other plate to the column. In the preferred form, a compression spring is located between the quill carrierand the column to constantly urge the carrier toward its operative position. A hearing is mounted to the quill carrier to rotatably receive the quill shaft of a spinning quill, and a quill wheel is fixedly mounted on the quill shaft. It is so located that when the carrier moves to its operative position it urges the quill wheel into direct, fictional driven engagement with the drive wheel. It is possible to arrange the components so that the axis of the quill is vertical or at some acute angle to the plane of the drive wheel, or horizontal but parallel to the plane of the drive wheel. However, it is presently preferred to arrange the components so that the quill is horizontal and parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and with its free end pointing directly at the operator. In this configuration, the quill wheel and drive wheel are in the same plane and their outer peripheral margins are in direct driving engagement. When it is desired to disengage the quill wheel so that it may be rotated by hand, the quill carrier is tilted about its axis against the spring bias and a latch on the column engages the carrier to retain it in retracted position.

The base and the drive wheel may be readily detached from the column, the actuator link may be readily detached from the drive wheel, and the quill shaft may be readily detached from the carrier. These components may then be nested together in small compass and-readily stored and packaged for safe shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various other advantages and features of novelty will become apparent as the description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in perspective of the apparatus incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with parts broken away and in operative position; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with the quill carrier latched in retracted position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A typical spinning apparatus incorporating the features of the invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the major components are shown as a base 10, a column 12, a drive wheel 14, actuating means 16, quill carrier 18, and quill assembly 20.

As best seen in FIG. 1, base 10 has a first rather wide laterally extending margin cut away at 22 to provide a clearance opening for the treadle portion of actuating means 16, and to define two laterally spaced ground contact areas 24 at the ends of the margin. The second, opposite, laterally extending margin 26 is much narrower than the first margin to give the base a generally triangular shape, and an axially extending notch 28 is formed in margin 26 to embrace column 12.

Column 12 is undercut slightly at 30 on each of its wider sides a short distance above its lower end 32 to form grooves or recesses which snugly receive the side walls of notch 28 and provide an interlocking engagement between the column and the base. To prevent unintentional separation, a small plate 34 is fitted into a notch in the outer edge of the column and secured to end 26 of the base. It will be noted that recesses 30 are set at an angle to the axis of the column and that lower end 32 of the column is cut away at 36 to define a limited ground contact area 38, so that the base and column when joined define a three point upright support assembly.

Column 12 is formed intermediate its upper and lower ends with a counterbored passage 40 extending parallel to the wider sides of the column and provided with bearing means 42 at each end of the passage to receive a journal shaft 44 for rotation. Flange 46 at the forward end of the shaft is rigidly secured to the rear face 48 of the drive wheel 14. Washer 50 prevents excess penetration of the shaft into the passage, and

headed fastener 52 hearing on washer 54 retains the shaft in place for proper operation. The drive wheel is readily detachable for shipping or storage merely by removing fastener 52 and washer 54.

Actuating means 16 includes a treadle 56 secured rotatably to the base by a strap or butt hinge 58, the cutaway portion 22 providing clearance for the heel end 60 of the treadle. An actuator link 62 is connected near its lower end 64 to the toe end 66 of the treadle by a hinge 68. The lower end 64 extends slightly below the pivot point to define a lever arm connected by tension spring 70 to the undersideof treadle 56. The resulting leverage arrangement constantly urges the treadle and actuator link toward a straight line relation. The upper end 72 of actuator link 62 carries an offset bracket 74 on which is rotatably mounted a small roller 76 such as is used for sliding doors and curtains. This roller is a push fit in the annular recess 78 formed in the front wall 80 of drive wheel 14. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the

recess 78 is radially offset from the center of rotation of the drive wheel and thus produces the lever arm necessary to define acrank arrangement. Obviously, as treadle 56 is raised and lowered, the crank action of the actuator link and the offset recess mounting will produce rotation of the drive wheel ina selected direction. Since spring 70 acts on the leverage connection between the treadle and the actuator link as mentioned above, the net effect is to bias the treadle and the link toward their uppermost positions and to assure the continued engagement of roller 76 in recess 78. It will be noted that the actuating means is readily disengageable from the drive wheel by merely pulling roller 76 out of recess 78. Thereafter, link 62 and treadle 56 may be folded down rather compactly on base after disengagement of spring 70.

Quill carrier 18 may take various forms and be mounted in various ways but it is presently preferred to employ the constructionillustrated. This includes a block or cap piece of about the same cross sectional area as the column, and mounted on top of the column by means of a butt or plate hinge 82 interconnecting the two components at the side of the column adjacent to the drive wheel for rotation of the cap piece about agenerally horizontal axis toward and away from the drive wheel, In order to bias the carrier in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, a recess 84 is formed in block 18 near the edge opposite to hinge 82 and a compression coil spring 86 is inserted in the recess, the spring being of sufficient length to protrude from the recess and engage the top of the column.

Carrier 18 is provided with'a counterbored passage 88 parallel to passage 40 and similarly provided with hearing means 90. The quill assembly includes the quill proper 92 and quill shaft 94, integral therewith and mounted for rotation in bearing means 90. A quill wheel 96 is fixedly mounted on the quill shaft by a force fit or suitable keying and has an outer peripheral margin .98 of suitable high friction material such as natural orsynthetic rubber. A tubular spacer 100 surrounds shaft 94 and abuts washer 102 which in turn abuts the adjacent bearing 90, and the spacer is of the proper length to locate quill wheel 96 in the same plane as drive wheel 14 with the periphery 98 in direct positive driven engagement with the outer peripheral margin 104 of the drive wheel. The mounting of the quill shaft is completed with washer 106 and headed fastener 108 in the same way as the mounting shaft 44. The quill assembly is readily detachable merely by removal of washer 106 and fastener 108. It is apparent that the bias of spring 86 will constantly urge the quill wheel into good contact with the drive wheel. When it is desired to disengage the quill wheel so that the quill may be rotated by hand, the quill carrier is pivotally retracted against the spring bias, as indicated in FIG. 3, and latched in retracted position by hook 110 and detent 112.

Since the primary purpose of the invention is to provide a spinning apparatus for domestic hobby use, the major components are formed of wood or wood product material which is relatively light and presents a pleasing appearance. The fact that the base and the drive wheel are readily detachable from the column, the actuator link is readily detachable from the drive wheel, and the quill assembly is readily detachable from the quill carrier, makes it possible to set up or knock down the machine in minutes, and to store it in a very limited space when not in use. Also, the simple construction permits the spinning of irregular and loosely-spun yarn which is not possible on conventional spinning wheels due to limitations imposed by the flyer hooks and orifice associated therewith.

What is claimed is: 1. Yarn spinning apparatus for spinning irregular and loosely-spun yarn comprising:

a base; an upright column secured to the base; bearing means on the column intermediate its upper and lower ends and having a substantially horizontal axis; a drive wheel arranged in a substantially vertical plane and mounted for rotation on said bearing means; foot-operated actuating means carried by the base and connected to the drive wheel to cause it to rotate; a quill carrier pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the column for tilting about a horizontal axis and provided with bearing means;

a spinning quill having a quill shaft section at one end and a point at the other end about which the yarn is spun to varying thickness, the quill being supported atthe one end by the shaft section mounted for rotation in the carrier bearing means, said other end being unsupported and extending from the carrier;

a quill wheel fixedly mounted on the quill shaft section and arranged for contact with the drive wheel to be directly positively driven thereby; and

resilient means biasing the quill carrier to pivot it in a direction to urge the quill wheel into driven engagement with the drive wheel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1;

the quill carrier being retractable by pivoting it against its resilient bias to disengage the quill wheel from the drive wheel;

and latch means interengaging between the carrier and the column to retain the carrier in retracted position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means includes:

a compression spring located between the carrier and the column to bias the carrier toward operative position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1;

the actuating means for rotation of the drive wheel comprising a treadle pivotally mounted on the base;

an actuator link pivotally connected at its lower end to the treadle;

and a roller mounted for rotation at the upper end of the link;

a recess formed in the drive wheel radially offset from its axis of rotation;

the roller being detachably engaged in the recess.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4;

and spring means connected between the treadle and the actuator link to bias them toward their uppermost position.

6. Yarn spinning apparatus for spinning irregular and loosely-spun yarn comprising:

an elongate generally planar base having laterally spaced ground contact areas at the ends of a first laterally extending margin;

a second, opposite, laterally extending margin being substantially narrower than the first laterally extending margin and provided with a central axially extending notch;

an upright column having a single ground contact area and formed with recesses at laterally opposite sides above its lower ends;

the notched margin of the base straddling the column and fitting into the recesses to unite the column and base and form a three point upright support;

bearing means formed in the column intermediate its upper and lower ends and having a substantially horizontal axis; 1

a drive wheel arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a central journal shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing means;

a treadle pivotally mounted on the base adjacent to its first lateral margin;

an actuator link pivotally connected at its lower end to the treadle;

a roller mounted for rotation at the upper end of the link;

a recess formed in the drive wheel radially offset from its axis of rotation;

the roller being secured in the recess;

a quill carrier'mounted on the top of the column and pivotally connected thereto on a horizontal axis at the side of the column adjacent to the drive wheel;

a compression spring located between the quill carrier and the column at the side opposite to their pivotal connection to bias the carrier toward operative position;

bearing means formed in the carrier parallel to the I axis of rotation of the drive wheel;

a spinning quill having a quill shaft section at one end and a point at the other end about which the yarn is spun to varying thickness, the quill being supported at said one end by the shaft section mounted for rotation in the carrier bearing means, said other end being unsupported and extending from said carrier so that yarn can be spun thereon;

a quill wheel fixedly mounted on the quill shaft section and arranged for direct positive driven engagement of its peripheral margin with the peripheral margin of the drive wheel;

the bias of the compression spring resiliently urging the quill wheel into engagement with the drive wheel.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6;

the quill carrier being retractable by pivoting it against the bias of the compression spring;

and latch means interengaging between the carrier and the column to retain the carrier in retracted position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6;

and spring means connected between the treadle and the actuator link to bias them toward their uppermost position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6;

the base and the drive wheel being readily detachable from the column;

the actuator link being readily detachable from the drive wheel;

and the quill shaft being readily detachable from the 

1. Yarn spinning apparatus for spinning irregular and looselyspun yarn comprising: a base; an upright column secured to the base; bearing means on the column intermediate its upper and lower ends and having a substantially horizontal axis; a drive wheel arranged in a substantially vertical plane and mounted for rotation on said bearing means; foot-operated actuating means carried by the base and connected to the drive wheel to cause it to rotate; a quill carrier pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the column for tilting about a horizontal axis and provided with bearing means; a spinning quill having a quill shaft section at one end and a point at the other end about which the yarn is spun to varying thickness, the quill being supported at the one end by the shaft section mounted for rotation in the carrier bearing means, said other end being unsupported and extending from the carrier; a quill wheel fixedly mounted on the quill shaft section and arranged for contact with the drive wheel to be directly positively driven thereby; and resilient means biasing the quill carrier to pivot it in a direction to urge the quill wheel into driven engagement with the drive wheel.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1; the quill carrier being retractable by pivoting it against its resilient bias to disengage the quill wheel from the drive wheel; and latch means interengaging between the carrier and the column to retain the carrier in retracted position.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means includes: a compression spring located between the carrier and the column to bias the carrier toward operative position.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1; the actuating means for rotation of the drive wheel comprising a treadle pivotally mounted on the base; an actuator link pivotally connected at its lower end to the treadle; and a roller mounted for rotation at the upper end of the link; a recess formed in the drive wheel radially offset from its axis of rotation; the roller being detachably engaged in the recess.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4; and spring means connected between the treadle and the actuator link to bias them toward their uppermost position.
 6. Yarn spinning apparatus for spinning irregular and loosely-spun yarn comprising: an elongate generally planar base having laterally spaced ground contact areas at the ends of a first laterally extending margin; a second, opposite, laterally extending margin being substantially narrower than the first laterally extending margin and provided with a central axially extending notch; an upright column having a single ground contact area and formed with recesses at laterally opposite sides above its lower ends; the notched margin of the base straddling the column and fitting into the recesses to unite the column and base and form a three point upright support; bearing means formed in the column intermediate its upper and lower ends and having a substantially horizontal axis; a drive wheel arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a central journal shaft mounted for rotation in the bearing means; a treadle pivotally mounted on the base adjacent to its first lateral margin; an actuator link pivotally connected at its lower end to the treadle; a roller mounted for rotation at the upper end of the link; a recess formed in the drive wheel radially offset from its axis of rotation; the roller being secured in the recess; a quill carrier mounted on the top of the column and pivotally connected thereto on a horizontal axis at the side of the column adjacent to the drive wheel; a compression spring located between the quill carrier and the column at the side opposite to their pivotal connection to bias the carrier toward operative position; bearing means formed in the carrier parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel; a spinning quill having a quill shaft section at one end and a point at the other end about which the yarn is spun to varying thickness, the quill being supported at said one end by the shaft section mounted for rotation in the carrier bearing means, said other end being unsupported and extending from said carrier so that yarn can be spun thereon; a quill wheel fixedly mounted on the quill shaft section and arranged for direct positive driven engagement of its peripheral margin with the peripheral margin of the drive wheel; the bias of the compression spring resiliently urging the quill wheel into engagement with the drive wheel.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6; the quill carrier being retractable by pivoting it against the bias of the compression spring; and latch means interengaging between the carrier and the column to retain the carrier in retracted position.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6; and spring means connected between the treadle and the actuator link to bias them toward their uppermost position.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6; the base and the drive wheel being readily detachable from the column; the actuator link being readily detachable from the drive wheel; and the quill shaft being readily detachable from the quill carrier. 